Cut and Thrust

8

Stone walked into the living room, which was now well populated with guests, and the first person he saw was the vice president of the United States. Martin Stanton was a tall, athletically built man of about fifty, with dark hair going gray, wearing a perfectly tailored suit. He was engaged in conversation with Peter and Hattie, and his eyes flicked toward Stone as he entered the room.

Stone walked over to where they stood. “Oh, Dad,” Peter said, “have you met the vice president? The governor invited him to join us this evening.”

“I have not,” Stone said, extending a hand, “but I am very happy to.”

“I’ve heard so much about you, Stone,” Stanton said. “I believe you and Kate Lee are very good friends.”

“We are just good friends,” Stone replied, “in spite of what you may have heard.” Or spread around, Stone thought.

Stanton smiled broadly, revealing impossibly white teeth. “Of course,” he said with a little smirk.

“Will you excuse me for just a moment?” Stone asked. He had seen Charlene Joiner enter the house, and he wanted to be the first to greet her.

Her face lit up as she spotted him. Charlene was beautifully attired in a silk dress and very high heels, with just the right accents of jewelry. “Stone! How are you, sweetheart?”

“I’m extremely well,” Stone replied, “as you obviously are. Have you met my son and his girl?”

“I have,” she replied. “We’ve been discussing an interesting role in his next film.”

“And have you met the vice president?”

“No, but I’d like to.”

“Right this way,” Stone said, taking her elbow and propelling her across the room to where Stanton still stood with Peter and Hattie. “Vice President Stanton,” Stone said, “may I present my favorite actress, Ms. Charlene Joiner?”

Stone watched as something clicked on in Stanton’s eyes and his hand reached for Charlene’s. This was the lady-killer in action, and he was about to meet his match.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Peter said, “we have some guests to greet.”

“I’ll help,” Stone said, and moved away from the man and woman who were so obviously enchanted with each other. He followed Peter and Hattie toward the front door and saw Ann come in.

“Hello, there.” He kissed her.

“Oh, hello,” she replied. “I was nearby when Kate finished with her appointments, so I didn’t bother to call.”

“You didn’t need to,” Stone said, signaling a waiter and ordering them drinks.

“My God!” she said. “There’s Martin Stanton. I want to go and say hello.”

“No,” Stone said, taking her arm. “Not now. He is entirely engaged at the moment, and we don’t want to interrupt.”

She looked at him through narrowed eyes. “You are wicked.”

“They’re getting along so well, why interrupt them? Why don’t we go next door and see Ben’s house?” He led her out a door to a terrace and found a flagstone path to the house next door. Others were streaming down it as well. As they approached the house Stone saw Ben and Tessa chatting with Leo Goldman Jr., the CEO of Centurion Studios.

“Stone!” Leo shouted, then grabbed his hand.

“Good to see you, Leo. May I present Ann Keaton?”

“How do you do, Ms. Keaton?”

“Ann is deputy manager for Kate Lee’s campaign.”

“I know your name well from our donor lists, Mr. Goldman,” Ann said. “In fact, you’re on my list to call.”

Leo began slapping his pockets. “I seem to have forgotten my checkbook,” he said.

“That’s all right,” Ann said, “I’ll hunt you down later.”

“Seriously,” Leo said, “the check is literally in the mail.”

“I’ll alert the postal services.”

Stone and Ann progressed into Ben’s beautifully furnished house and found a pair of comfortable chairs.

“I didn’t see the governor,” Ann said. “He didn’t make it?”

“He did, inviting the vice president, too, and he has already moved on to his next engagement.”

“Then you didn’t get a chance to talk with him?”

“We had a very nice chat, and we understood each other perfectly. You heard that Senator Stockman died?”

“I had a call ten minutes ago.”

“Funniest thing happened as we were discussing how Stanton’s gifts would so well qualify him for a Senate seat. Seconds after the announcement on the six o’clock news, the governor’s phone rang, and guess who it was?”

“I’ve no doubt it was Marty.”

“Collins didn’t take the call — in fact, he turned off his phone.”

“Do you think he got your message?”

“Certainly he did. He’s a very astute young man, and without actually saying so, he let me know that if Stanton fails to get a majority of the delegates on the first ballot, he would be with Kate. I suggested that if Stanton knew he had the Senate seat for a backup, he might be easier to deal with at the convention.”

“And how did he react to that?”

“We were in perfect agreement. Of course, he didn’t say a word that would prevent him from giving the seat to someone else, or that he would support Kate if Stanton failed, but he intimated it, in the way that politicians do.”

“And how did Marty and Charlene Joiner happen to meet?”

“I will cheerfully take the blame for that one,” Stone replied. “I think they’re made for each other, now that Marty is functionally single again.”

“I said you were wicked, didn’t I?”

“You did, and I’m grateful for the compliment.”

“I hope Marty can’t contain himself and starts squiring Ms. Joiner around the city while everybody who is anybody in the party is in town.”

“It’s just the sort of brazen behavior that might help, isn’t it?”

“I long to see their photograph together on every front page.”

“Then we’ll have to take one, won’t we?” Stone said. “Or better, get Peter to.” He took out his phone and pressed a speed-dial button. “Peter? It’s your father. Would you be kind enough to take or have someone else take a photograph of the vice president nuzzling Charlene Joiner? It would be so nice to have as a souvenir. Thank you.” Stone hung up. “Consider it done.”

“And I know just who to e-mail it to,” Ann said, “for the maximum possible effect.”